Manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for fluid-dispensing systems

ABSTRACT

A combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for fluid-dispensing systems including an inner body and support member which carries a normally closed control valve for regulating the dispensing of fluid from said dispensing system and further provides means to pivotally mount an actuating assembly including a bracket means operatively associated with the control valve, the bracket means being disposed to permit independent or simultaneous movement thereof either by a manually operated push button means or a foot-operated lever means connected thereto whereby the control valve will be moved to open position so as to permit a regulated flow of fluid to be dispensed by said dispensing head assembly. The dispensing head assembly additionally having a split outer casing disposed about and coacting with the inner body and support member to customize the dispensing head assembly to prevent easy access to the inner body member and support member and its associated bracket means, yet allows access with suitable tools when repairs or replacement of parts in the dispensing head assembly are required.

l l a t [72] Inventor Richard C. Dreibelbis Fair Lawn, NJ. [21] App]. No. 803,304 {22] Filed Feb. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee H & H Thermostats, llnc.

Cedar Grove, NJ.

[54] MANUAL AND FOOT-OPERATED DKSPENSING HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR FLUID-DISPENSING [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,820 4/1942 Gowdy 137/208 2,739,461 3/1956 Canter 239/295 2,914,252 11/1959 Sorensen et a1 239/295 Primary ExaminerDavis T. Moorhead Attorney-Popper, Bain and Bobis ABSTRACT: A combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for fluid-dispensing systems including an inner body and support member which carries a normally closed control valve for regulating the dispensing of fluid from said dispensing system and further provides means to pivotally mount an actuating assembly including a bracket means operatively associated with the control valve, the bracket means being disposed to permit independent or simultaneous movement thereof either by a manually operated push button means or a foot-operated lever means connected thereto whereby the control valve will be moved to open position so as to permit a regulated flow of fluid to be dispensed by said dispensing head assembly. The dispensing head assembly additionally having a split outer casing disposed about and coacting with the inner body and support member to customize the dispensing head assembly to prevent easy access to the inner body member and support member and its associated bracket means, yet allows access with suitable tools when repairs or replacement of parts in the dispensing head assembly are required.

. ii II PATENTEU MAR 2:9?1

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dispensing head assemblies with manual and foot-operated control valve means thereon more particularly for water-cool ing and dispensing systems are known in the prior art as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,914,252, 2,739,461 and 2,280,820.- 1

One of the prior art problems on such devices is maladjustment or change in the setting between the control valve and its related manual and foot-operated mechanism due to tolerance stackup which causes the dispensing mechanism to be held in a continually open position thus producing leakage when the dispensing mechanism is not in operation.

Tolerance stackup arises in the course of the manufacture of the dispensing head assembly parts. For example, for the control valve the tolerances vary between :23 l0- and for forgings between :35 X 1 0- However, the cumulative effeet at the extremes of these tolerance limits could run 1-58 10 The corollary to this problem is unnecessary looseness or slop between the elements of the dispensing head assembly, where excessive clearance is provided to meet and overcome the problem due to tolerance stackup; for example, between the end of the push button stern of the control valve and the actuating member of the manual and foot-operated actuating assembly coacting therewith.

Further, the known prior art devices are expensive and have some degree of complexity for example, one prior art device has a pivoting outer casing which acts as a pushbutton means in the actuating mechanism for the control valve.

Further, if the dispensing heads are not made properly, they become subject to theft or are broken by inquisitive people 5 who examine the construction and try to disassemble the unit.

As a result, the entire dispensing head assembly or .the parts thereof must additionally be replaced or repaired due to this vandalism.

In the present invention, an improved combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly is provided in which the bracket means, the manually operable pushbutton means for manually actuating the control valve and the footactuating means are constructed and arranged to overcome these prior art problems and furtherthe manual and foot-actuating means are so disposed with respect to the control valve that the resultant of the applied operating force is directly along the centerline of the control valve.

Additionally, the present invention provides an outer casing S O of a split-type design which serves to customize the dispensing head assembly; prevents tampering with the operative portions thereof; yet permits easy access thereto by proper tools if repair of the dispensing head assembly should be required.

Additionally, the customized outer casing permits the water 5 5 handling portions of the dispensing head assembly to be made of materials which comply with the Federal State and Local Plumbing Codes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention covers an improved combinat on manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system including an inner body and support member for mounting and locking the dispensing head assembly into assembled portions on a fluid-dispensing system the inner body and support member having means thereon for mounting a control valve of the cartridge type and means to pivotally mount an actuating assembly including a bracket means disposed to actuate the control valve to control the flow of water or the dispensing of fluid from the dispensing head assembly, said bracket means in assembled position disposed in predetermined spaced relation to said control valve; to prevent accidental opening of the control valve, misalignment or other malfunction of the bracket; and disposed for cooperative relation with a manually actuated pushbutton member and a foot-operated lever assembly so that the bracket member may be moved independently or simultaneously either by manual operation or foot operation as may be desired. Additionally, the present invention covers an improved combination hand and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system including an outer casing of the split type mounted about and adapted to coact with the inner body and support member and the bracket means and to provide for the operative mounting of the manually operated pushbutton means which split type outer casing acts to customize and at the same time protect these operative portions of the dispensing head assembly.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an actuating mechanism for control valves in a manual and footoperating dispensing head assembly for fluid-dispensing systems which actuating means is suitably connected and spaced to prevent holding the control valve open due to normal dimensional tolerance build up arising during the manufacture of the inner body, valve mechanism, bracket assembly, outer casing and other parts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an outer casing for a combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for fluid-dispensing systems in which the casing remains stationary and does not need to pivot in order to place the control valve of the dispensing head assembly into operation.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system including an inner body member and operating assembly associated therewith for controlling and regulating the dispensing of fluid from the dispensing system and an outer casing of the split type which acts to cover and protect the inner body member and the associate operating assembly yet permits easy access thereto should repairs become necessary.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a water cooler unit having a dispensing head in accordance with the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top view ofthe water cooler unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partly broken away to show the bracket means of the. present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the casing for the dispensing head assembly partly broken away to show the bracket means;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the outer casing for the dispensing head assembly showing the manually operable pushbutton means associated therewith;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end view of the split outer casing showing interlocking parts thereof;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 4!;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the inner body and support member, the cartridge type control valve and the associated parts of the actuating assembly for the control valve;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of the locking boss, the locking washer and the associated elements coacting therewith in assembled position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the locking washer associated with the inner body and support member of the dispensing head assembly;

FIG. 12 is a view of the bracket means of the actuating assembly;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the manually operable pushbutton means;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross section of another locking means for rendering the dispensing head assembly vandal proof.

FIG. is a bottom view of the locking means shown in FIG. 14.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a conventional water cooler 10 for dispensing chilled water having a combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly generally designated 11 thereon in accordance with the present invention.

Water coolers for chilling water of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are well known and easily purchasable on the open market. They include generally an outer housing designated 12 in which is mounted any suitable type of refrigerating unit or chilling means (not shown) for cooling water delivered to the water cooler It from a y suitable source.

The outer housing 12 has an associated top or upper closure means 13 which is diSl'tuCl to form a collecting surface to collect unused or waste water discharged from the dispensing head assembly 11, which as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably mounted or connected to one corner of the top or upper closure means 13.

A drain 14 in the top or upper closure means 13 is connected to a discharge outlet (not shown) to provide means to remove the unused or waste water from the water cooler unit 10.

DISPENSING HEAD ASSEMBLY The dispensing head assembly 11 as shown in FIG. 3 through 12 inclusive is unique because of the interrelation between an inner body and support member generally designated which contains a control valve generally designated 40 for regulating the flow of liquid to be dispensed from the fluid-dispensing system; an actuating mechanism or assembly generally designated 50 for operating the control valve; and a split-type outer casing generally designated 70 all of which provide a compact arrangement in which structural and operational improvements over the known prior art devices are obtained.

The inner body and support member 20 of the dispensing head assembly 11 is an irregularly shaped element and includes a support section 21 and a control valve holding section 22 disposed at an angle to the support section 21.

The support section 21 is provided with a mounting boss 23 which is threaded as at 24 so that the body member 20 can be disposed to fit into an opening 25 provided in the top or upper closure member 13 as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. In assembled position, a locking nut 26 engages the threaded portion 24 and acts to pull the inner body and support member 20 and the associate parts of the dispensing head assembly into assembled position as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 7 of the drawings.

A gasket 27 is provided as a seal between the inner body and support member 20, the split outer casing 80 and the upper surfaces of the top or upper closure member 13 and to cushion the dispensing head assembly 11 in its assembled position.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, l0 and 11, a locking boss 28 having a locking groove 29 is formed on the support section 21 adjacent the mounting boss 23 to permit the tab element 30 of a locking member 31 held in position by the locking nut 26 to extend through openings 32 and 33 in the top or upper closure 13 and in the gasket 27 into the locking groove 29 on the locking boss 28 formed on the inner body and support member 20. The tab 30 and coacting locking boss 28 hold the assembly so it cannot be rotated either accidentally or intentionally after the dispensing head assembly is in assembled position and ready for operation thus rendering the dispensing head assembly vandal proof.

The inner body and support member 20 is shown to include a nipple 34 projecting from the mounting boss 23. Nipple 34 is connected to conduit 35 which in turn communicates with the refrigerating unit or cooling means provided in the water cooler unit 10. Conduit 35, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, serves to deliver cooled fluid to an inlet passage 36, extending through the nipple 34, the support section 21 and the control valve section 22 of the inner body and support member 20.

The control valve 40 in assembled position is disposed to communicate with the inlet passage 36 and a discharge passage 37 extending from the control valve holding section 22 to a discharge chamber 38 in the support section 21 which discharge chamber in turn communicates with a discharge nozzle means 39 for dispensing fluid from the dispensing head assembly when the normally closed control valve 40 is actuated to open position.

The control valve 40 is mounted in a control valve cavity 41 formed in the control valve holding section 22 of the inner body member. It is held in assembled position in communication with the inlet passage 36 and the discharge passage 37 by an annular element 42 threaded as at 43 on its outer wall which engages the threaded portion 44 in the upper section of the control valve cavity 41. The annular element 42 holds the control valve 40 in assembled position so that an operating spring housing assembly generally designated 45 of the control valve projects outboard of the control valve holding section 22 of the inner body and support member 20. The outer end of the operating spring housing 45 has a flange 47 and mounted in the housing 45 is a range adjusting screw 48 all of which is clearly shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

In this position, a spring 46 acts to hold the operating spring housing assembly extended so that valve means 49 will hold the control valve 40 normally closed. The operating spring housing assembly 45 acts like a push rod assembly and when it is depressed by the actuating means 50 as hereinafter described, the normally closed control valve will be moved to an open position whereby cooled fluid from the inlet passage 36 will act to displace cooled fluid in the dispensing head assembly 11 through the nozzle means 39.

The construction of the control valve and its operation is clearly described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,003,519 and 2.868,223. These structures are purchasable on the open market and accordingly, are well known in the art and will not be more fully described herein.

ACTUATING MEANS IN DISPENSING HEAD ASSEM BLY In order to actuate the control valve 40 an actuating assembly generally designated 50 is provided in the present device.

The actuating assembly 50 includes an actuating bracket 51 which is formed from a pair of generally J-shaped side members 52 and 53 which appear in an inverted J form in assembled position. These J-shaped side members are disposed and held in spaced relation to each other by a cam means 54 which connects the upper or shorter legs of the side members 52 and 53 as is clearly shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. At the end of each of the shorter legs remote from the longer legs of the side members 52 and 53, a pivot opening is formed respectively therein at 55 and 56. Thus, these side members can be connected on opposite ends of a shaft 57 which is mounted for rotation in bore 58 formed in a pivot bracket or boss 59 adjacent the upper end of the control valve holding section 22 of the inner body and support member 20. When in assembled position as shown in FIG. 7 the actuating bracket 51 is adapted to pivot relative the inner body and support member 20 about an axis having shaft 57 as its center.

The actuating bracket 51 is particularly shaped to permit the cam means 54 to be positioned so that the lower or underside thereof will coact with the operating spring housing assembly 45 of the control valve 40 and the top or upper side thereof will coact with a pushbutton lever 60.

By reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 and 12 the cam means 54 is shown to include a pair of spaced arcuate depressed members 61 and 62.

The arcuate depression 61 and 62 are disposed in assembled position as shown in FIG. 7 to rest on and engage the outer periphery of the flange 47 of the operating spring housing as sembly 45 and at the same time clears the range adjustment screw 48. I

In this assembled position it is believed clear that the resultant of the applied force exerted by the actuating means 58 whether the same is operated manually or by'foot will be along the centerline of the control valve 40.

Between the arcuate depression 61 and 62 an opening 63 is provided and this opening receives a connecting nob 64 formed on the pushbutton 68 which centers the pushbutton so that in assembled position camming ridges as at 65 and 66 will rest on the top or upper face of the cam means 54 of the actuating bracket 51. The pushbutton 60 is prevented from rotating in assembled position because the overhung portion 68a engages the shoulder 54a formed by the front edge of the cam means 54.

The pushbutton 60 extends through a pushbutton opening 67 provided in the removable portion 69 of the outer casing 70. The pushbutton 68 has no operative relation with the removable portion 69, thus the pushbutton 60 can be easily depressed when it is desired to operate the dispensing head assembly 11 by manual means.

A fixed portion 68 of the outer casing 70 coacts with the removable portion 69 thereof as is more fully described hereinafter.

In assembled position as shown in FIG. 7, the actuating bracket 51 is disposed to permit each of the longer legs of the side members 52 and 53 to extend down in the approximate longitudinal line of the water cooler so that a connecting rod 71 can be connected at one end to the foot operating lever 72 and at the end remote therefrom to openings 72 and 73 formed in a pair of inwardly extending flanges 74 and 75 on the actuating bracket 51 at the end thereof remote from the pivot openings 55 and 56.

1 It is noted that the side members 52 and 53 appear in inverted J-shaped in assembled position and the clearance .between the longer legs of side members 52 and 53 and the inner body and support member must be such that the actuating bracket 51 will not contact the base of the inner body and support member 20 when the actuating bracket 51 moves the push rod assembly M through its full stroke of movement.

By reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, it is seen that the end of the connecting rod 71 is loosely connected in the openings 72 and 73 of the flanges 74 and 75 to permit substantial lost motion therebetween so that when it is desired to operate the actuating bracket 5]. manually, the foot operating lever assembly will not interfere with such manual operation. Conversely, however, when it is desired to manipulate both the foot and the manual operation simultaneously, this can also be done or the foot operated lever may be operated independently of the manual device.

OUTER CASING OF DISPENSING HEAD ASSEMBLY In order to render the dispensing head assembly vandalproof a means was described above to prevent rotation of the dispensing head assembly after it is in assembled position.

In order to further protect the dispensing head assembly from accidental or intentional removal thereof from the water cooler unit, a specially designed two-piece outer casing 70 is provided which also serves to customize or improve the external appearance of the bare inner body and support member 20 of dispensing head assembly Ill and further to adapt the dispensing head assembly 11 for easy repair should this be necessary.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 the outer casing is seen to include the fixed portion 68 and the removable portion 69.

The fixed portion 68 is a generally U-shaped element which fits snuggly about the body section 21 of the inner body and support member 20 and is held in assembled position by the flanged rim 76 on the nozzle member 39 when the nozzle member is fitted into assembled position.

The fixed portion 68 of the outer casing has the peripheral edges on both sides thereof raised to form ridges 77 and 78 which ridges are associated at the upper end with an upwardly projecting tongue element 79 and at the respective lower ends of the fixed portion 68 of the outer casing 70 with locking flanges 80 and 81 which extend in a generally transverse direction to the plane or line of the ridges 77 and 78.

The removable portion 69 of the outer casing 70 is a cupshaped element which fits about the actuating assembly 50 and the control valve holding section 22 of the inner body and support member 20.

The removable portion 69 is provided with a pair of inturned or downturned flanges as at 82 and 83 on either side thereof which as is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the drawings are disposed to permit the removable portion 69 of the outer casing 70 to be fitted into tight assembly with the fixed portion 68 by slidably interlocking the flanges 82 and 83 onto the mutually out-turned or upturned flanges or ridges 77 and 78 of the fixed portion 69.

The removable portion 69 is further provided with a cut out as at 84 engages the projecting tongue element 79 on the fixed portion 68 and has locking grooves as at 85 and 86 to engage the locking flanges 80 and 81 of the fixed portion 68 of the outer casing.

Threaded means as at 87 is provided to fixedly connect said fixed portion 68 and removable portion 69 of the outer casing 70 in assembled position. The threaded means 87 is provided on the head thereof with a special tool engaging design 88 so that the threaded means 87 cannot be easily removed by vandals or inquisitive persons when the dispensing head assembly is in assembled position but can be easily removed with a suitable tool by any service man as might be required in order to disassemble the outer casing to get at the inner elements of the dispensing head assembly which may need adjustment, repair or replacement.

Since the casings are locked together and are held in assembled position on the inner body member by means of the nozzle member 39 once the dispensing head assembly 11 is pulled into snug engagement with the outer face of the top or upper closure element 13 the only portion of the mechanism that can be moved is the pushbutton 60 which extends through the pushbutton opening 67 formed in the removable portion 69 of the outer casing 70. The other movable coacting movable coacting member is the foot operated lever 72 extending out of the bottom of the cooler 12 of the water cooler unit 10.

The fixed portion 68 and the removable portion 69 are made of bright finished stainless material or other Ser. corrosion resistant material to provide clean and heat appearance for the dispensing head assembly. The ornamental design of the outer casing may vary, thus the fixed portion could be a corrosion resistant material which is colored and the removable portion could be a shaped and coated plastic such as mylar. This ornamental design of the outer casing, however, forms part of a copending Design Pat. application Ser. No. 16,313 filed Mar. 18, 1969 now U.S. Pat. No. 217,305.

The removable portion 69 is also provided with a shield or water spray deflector 89 which extends over and coacts with the nozzle 39.

Unlike certain other prior art devices the fixed portion 68 and the removable portion 69 once in assembled position do not pivot or. rotate during normal operation of the manual and foot-operated dispending head assembly 11 in the dispensing of fluid from the water cooler.

OPERATION In operation when the dispensing head assembly is in assembled position as above described and is more particularly shown with'reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 of the drawings manual operation is accomplished by depressing the pushbutton lever 60.

When this occurs and by reason of the close interconnection of the pushbutton 60 with the actuating bracket 51, the actuating bracket 51 is caused to pivot about the axis of the shaft 57 and the arcuate depressed elements 61 and 62 on the cam means 64 act to force the operating spring housing assembly 45 inwardly or downwardly so as to open the normally closed control valve 40 in the manner well known in the art for these devices.

As long as the pushbutton 60 is held in the depressed position the control valve 40 will remain open and cooled water will flow from the inlet passage 36 through the control valve 40 to the discharge passage 37 and thence to the discharge chamber 38 to the dispensed by the dispensing nozzle 39.

Since there is a loose or lost motion connection between the end on the connecting rod 71 and the flanges 74 and 75 on the actuating bracket 51 the foot-operated lever assembly 72 will not be effected by the movement of the pushbutton 60.

When the depressed pushbutton 60 is released, then by reason of the return spring 46 on the operating spring housing assembly 45 the actuating bracket 51 and the pushbutton 60 are returned to their inoperative positions.

When it is decided to operate the water cooler 10 by means of the foot-operated lever 72, the foot is sued to depress the foot-operated lever 72 and this motion is transmitted through the connecting rod 71 to the actuating bracket 51 to which it is connected.

The connecting rod pulls the actuating bracket 51 downwardly causing it to pivot about the axis of shaft 57 in the same manner as above described when the pushbutton 60 is depressed and once again by reason of the contact of the armate depressed elements 61 and 62 the operating spring housing assembly 45 is depressed causing the normally closed control valve to move to the open position.

As long as the foot-operated lever 72 is held in the depressed position the control valve 40 will remain open and cooled water will be dispensed by the dispensing nozzle as above described. When the foot-operated lever 72 is released then the return spring 46 once again returns all elements to the normally inoperative position, control valve 40 is closed and water is no longer dispensed.

ALTERNATE ANTIVANDALISM LOCKING MEANS FIGS. 14 and 15 show an alternate form of antivandalism device which also simplifies sealing the dispensing head assembly when it is in assembled position.

Thus, FIGS. 14 and 15 show the lower or support portion generally indicatedat 121 of an inner body and support member 120 as including a mounting boss 123 which is not threaded about its periphery as in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 ofthis invention.

However, a D-shaped keying shoulder 12311 is provided by cutting of or nulling offa portion of the mounting boss 123 so that if a similarly shaped opening as at 132 is provided in the top or upper closure 113 of the fluid dispensing unit the inner body and support member 120 when placed in assembled position and connected by means of the spacing washer 126 and locking nut 126a which is threaded onto the connecting nipple 134 cannot be rotated either accidentally or intentionally as in the case of the form of the invention above described.

An ring seal 127 is provided to seal and to cushion this form of the dispensing head assembly when the same is in assembled position.

Iclaim:

1. A combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system with an outer housing comprising:

a. a body member having means for connecting said dispensing head to the upper portion of the outer housing of said fluid dispensing system and an inlet communicating with the source of fluid to be dispensed and a discharge outlet;

b. a control valve maintained normally closed by spring means connected in said body member to control and regulate the flow of fluid from said inlet to the discharge outlet;

c. actuating means including a bracket means in said dispensing head connected to said body member, said bracket means disposed for actuating said control valve to open position;

d. pushbutton means mounted in said dispensing head assembly for operative association with said bracket means and disposed to permit manual movement thereof; and

e. a foot-operated means connected to said bracket means to coact wit said pushbutton means to permit selectively I 5 simultaneous and independent manual and foot operation of said actuating means.

2. In a dispensing bead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bracket means includes:

a. a cam means thereon disposed to engage and to exert a force along the centerline of said control valve on movement of said bracket means to open the control valve; and

b. said pushbutton means having cam means thereon to coact with said cam means on the bracket means and to move the bracket means on manual movement of the pushbutton means.

3. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bracket means includes:

a. means to pivotally connect said bracket means on said body member;

b. a camming means disposed to exert a force along the centerline of the control valve and to engage and open said control valve on movement of the bracket means; and

c. said bracket means shaped and spaced so as to position said camming means relative said control valve to prevent accidental opening of said control valve due to cumulative tolerance buildup amongst the bracket means, the control valve and other parts of the dispensing head assembly.

4. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

a. said camming means is provided with shoulder means;

b. said pushbutton means is provided with an overhung portion to engage said shoulder means on the camming means to hold the same in assembled position; and

c. cam elements on the pushbutton means to coact with the bracket means during manual operation of said control valve.

5. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bracket means has a lost motion means for connecting said bracket member with said foot-operated means to permit selectively independent and simultaneous operation of said pushbutton means and said foot-operated means.

6. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim I having a locking assembly including:

a. a locking element formed on said body member; and

b. a locking means disposed to coact with the locking element on said body member.

7. A combination manual and foot-operated dispensing 60 head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system comprising:

a. a body member having means for connecting said dispensing head assembly to said fluid dispensing system;

b. an outer casing disposed to coact with said body member and to form a customized outer assembly therefore;

c. said outer casing including a relatively fixed portion and a portion removable to facilitate replacement and repair of the elements of said dispensing head assembly; and

d. means adapted to lock said removable portion to said fixed portion in assembled position.

8. A dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system comprising:

a. a body member having means for connecting said dispensing head to said fluid-dispensing system and an inlet communicating with the source of fluid to be 75 dispensed and a discharge outlet;

b. a control valve maintained normally closed by resilient means therein connected in said body member to control and regulate the flow of fluid from said inlet to the discharge outlet;

c. an outer casing mounted about said body member and having at least one portion with a pushbutton-receiving opening therethrough;

d. actuating means mounted in said dispensing head assembly between said body member and said outer casing and cam means on said actuating means for exerting a force on movement of said actuating means along the centerline of said control valve to move the same to open position; and

e. pushbutton means mounted to extend through said opening in the outer casing and disposed for operative association with said cam means to permit manual movement of said actuating means.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 including a footoperated means connected to said actuating means to coact with said pushbutton means and to permit selectively simultaneous and independent manual and foot operation of said dispensing head assembly.

10. In a dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said outer casing has at least one removable portion to facilitate repair and replacement of the elements of said dispensing head assembly.

11. The dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system as claimed in claim 8 including a locking assembly to prevent rotation and removal of said dispensing head assembly from the fluid-dispensing system by vandals after the same is in assembled position.

12. A pushbutton means for a dispensing head assembly comprising:

a. a shaped member having an overhung portion at one end forming an engaging and pivoting means; and

b. cam means in the underside thereof.

13. A bracket element for the actuating means on a dispensing head assembly having a control valve for dispensing fluid comprising:

a a pair of substantially J-shaped elements;

b. cam means fixedly connected said J-shaped elements to each other and holding the same in spaced relation; c. said J -shaped elements having means thereon to pivotally 2 connect said actuating means in said dispensing head assembly; and d. said cam means disposed in assembled position to coact with the control valve in said dispensing head assembly to exert a force along the centerline of said control valve. 

1. A combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system with an outer housing comprising: a. a body member having means for connecting said dispensing head to the upper portion of the outer housing of said fluid dispensing system and an inlet communicating with the source of fluid to be dispensed and a discharge outlet; b. a control valve maintained normally closed by spring means connected in said body member to control and regulate the flow of fluid from said inlet to the discharge outlet; c. actuating means including a bracket means in said dispensing head connected to said body member, said bracket means disposed for actuating said control valve to open position; d. pushbutton means mounted in said dispensing head assembly for operative association with said bracket means and disposed to permit manual movement thereof; and e. a foot-operated means connected to said bracket means to coact wit said pushbutton means to permit selectively simultaneous and independent manual and foot operation of said actuating means.
 2. In a dispensing bead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bracket means includes: a. a cam means thereon disposed to engage and to exert a force along the centerline of said control valve on movement of said bracket means to open the control valve; and b. said pushbutton means having cam means thereon to coact with said cam means on the bracket means and to move the bracket means on manual movement of the pushbutton means.
 3. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bracket means includes: a. means to pivotally connect said bracket means on said body member; b. a camming means disposed to exert a force along the centerline of the control valve and to engage and open said control valve on movement of the bracket means; and c. said bracket means shaped and spaced so as to position said camming means relative said control valve to prevent accidental opening of said control valve due to cumulative tolerance buildup amongst the bracket means, the control valve and other parts of the dispensing head assembly.
 4. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein: a. said camming means is provided with shoulder means; b. said pushbutton means is provided with an overhung portion to engage said shoulder means on the camming means to hold the same in assembled position; and c. cam elements on the pushbutton means to coact with the bracket means during manual operation of said control valve.
 5. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bracket means has a lost motion means for connecting said bracket member with said foot-operated means to permit selectively independent and simultaneous operation of said pushbutton means and said foot-operated means.
 6. In the dispensing head assembly as claimed in claim 1 having a locking assembly including: a. a locking element formed on said body member; and b. a locking means disposed to coact with the locking element on said body member.
 7. A combination manual and foot-operated dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system comprising: a. a body member having means for connecting said dispensing head assembly to said fluid dispensing system; b. an outer casing disposed to coact with said body member and to form a customized outer assembly therefore; c. said outer casing including a relatively fixed portion and a portion removable to facilitate replacement and repair of the elements of said dispensing head assembly; and d. means adapted to lock said removable portion to said fixed portion in assembled position.
 8. A dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system comprising: a. a body member having means for connecting said dispensing head to said fluid-dispensing system and an inlet communicating with the source of fluid to be dispensed and a discharge outlet; b. a control valve maintained normally closed by resilient means therein connected in said body member to control and regulate the flow of fluid from said inlet to the discharge outlet; c. an outer casing mounted about said body member and having at least one portion with a pushbutton-receiving opening therethrough; d. actuating means mounted in said dispensing head assembly between said body member and said outer casing and cam means on said actuating means for exerting a force on movement of said actuating means along the centerline of said control valve to move the same to open position; and e. pushbutton means mounted to extend through said opening in the outer casing and disposed for operative association with said cam means to permit manual movement of said actuating means.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 including a foot-operated means connected to said actuating means to coact with said pushbutton means and to permit selectively simultaneous and independent manual and foot operation of said dispensing head assembly.
 10. In a dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said outer casing has at least one removable portion to facilitate repair and replacement of the elements of said dispensing head assembly.
 11. The dispensing head assembly for a fluid-dispensing system as claimed in claim 8 including a locking assembly to prevent rotation and removal of said dispensing head assembly from the fluid-dispensing system by vandals after the same is in assembled position.
 12. A pushbutton means for a dispensing head assembly comprising: a. a shaped member having an overhung portion at one end forming an engaging and pivoting means; and b. cam means in the underside thereof.
 13. A bracket element for the actuating means on a dispensing head assembly having a control valve for dispensing fluid comprising: a. a pair of substantially J-shaped elements; b. cam means fixedly connected said J-shaped elements to each other and holding the same in spaced relation; c. said J-shaped elements having means thereon to pivotally connect said actuating means in said dispensing head assembly; and d. said cam means disposed in assembled position to coact with the control valve in said dispensing head assembly to exert a force along the centerline of said control valve. 